Media Release

FA63 - 6 June 2003

The Australia Group: Strengthening Measures to Prevent the Spread of Weapons
of Mass Destruction

I welcome the decisions taken by the Australia Group at its annual meeting
in Paris (2-5 June 2003) to further strengthen export controls on goods and
technologies that could be used in chemical and biological weapons (CBW)
programs.

Under Australia’s leadership, the Group agreed on measures that
will make a significant contribution to the fight against the spread of
CBW. These
include

the addition of 14 human pathogens that could potentially be
used in WMD programs to the Australia Group Biological Control List;

the endorsement of a cooperative program of action to engage
countries in the Asia-Pacific region on CBW-related export control
issues;

the approval of a practical guide for compliance and enforcement
officers to help detect, identify and prevent illegitimate transfers
of items controlled by the Australia Group;

new procedures for improving transparency and enhancing information
sharing among members.

I welcome the continued high priority placed by members of the Australia
Group on preventing the spread of CBW in the fight against terrorism, and
their commitment to strengthening export control measures.

The Australia Group is an informal network of countries that consult on
and harmonise their national export licensing measures on CBW-relevant items.
Participants work together to prevent the inadvertent export of goods and
technology for use in CBW programs. Currently, 33 countries - from Europe,
the Asia-Pacific and the Americas, plus the European Commission - participate
in the Group. Australia has chaired the Group since 1985.